BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 13th 2009 (PAM Secretariat) - A number of opposition parties in St. Kitts and Nevis are demanding that Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas should immediately apologize to the people of the Federation for what they said is his scant disregard and respect for them.
Leading the call are the People’s Action Movement (PAM), Concerned Citizens Movement and Nevis Reformation Party (NRP). A source close to NRP said that while the leadership of the party has not come out publicly to criticize or comment on the Prime Minister’s latest address to he nation, the party remains very concerned that the Federation’s social fabric is at threat from the actions of the Labour Party.
The parties are of the view that the Prime Minister’s attempts should be described as a deliberate act at influencing the outcome of an election while insulting the intelligence of the public. Leader of the Opposition and member of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Hon. Mark Brantley stated publicly on www.sknvibes.com, “I think the Prime Minister’s speech disappointed many...myself included. What people want to hear from him is a date for the election. I believe the entire nation was tuned in hoping that was what he was going to speak about. He still continues to walk around with the election date in his back pocket and the nation is at a point of great anxiety as we wait for the date we can choose our next government.”
The article further stated that Brantley insisted he was pleased that public servants would receive the additional revenue, and urged them to exercise caution with their spending. He however noted his frustration at the “obvious political gimmick” pulled by Douglas.
“I believe that the timing of the announcement demonstrates certain contempt for the people of the country and a certain feeling by the Prime Minister that he can somehow purchase the support of the electorate. If I can think I can buy your vote, I’m contemptuous of you. It’s obvious it’s a political stunt. He didn’t do it last year or the year before, because there was no election then. But he does it this year because an election is coming,” Hon Brantley was reported as saying.
Hon. Shawn Richards of the PAM described the PM’s speech as a complete insult to the public, noting that he continues to play politics at every level while refusing to be genuine in his endeavors as the Federation’s leader. He called on the PM to demonstrate respect and care for the residents and citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis, noting that he should be cognizant of the challenges and difficulties being faced by all.
“He should understand what the public is going through and I therefore urge him to demonstrate more responsible leadership as politicking in this season certainly will not help his cause, as people are fed up,” Richards said.
Meanwhile, a close source of the NRP noted that the PM sounded like a “dying desperate man attempting to cling unto straws”. The source stressed it is evident that the PM is desperately trying to lure the public in voting for him through the promise of favours and gifts. This, the source noted, should be seen as unprofessional and unethical. The party source pointed out that the latest actions and comments would certainly do nothing more than “provide fuel for the appetites of the public to go out and demonstrate their rejection of Prime Minister Douglas and his party by voting for change”.
The parties concluded that the PM’s promise of providing a laptop to every child should be seen “not only erroneous but misleading’, noting that even in very rich counties this has not been able to be achieved, and they question his real motive behind making such a promise to the Federation’s children.
PAM said it firmly believes that the PM’s delaying tactics of not calling election on the old boundaries, while deliberately attempting to change them in order to give him an unfair advantage, is inexcusable and it joins the other parties in condemning this action. PAM further states that it was therefore “inappropriate” for Dr. Douglas to make the remarks that he delivered in Parliament, adding that it demonstrates his inability, arrogance, disdain and unprofessionalism in handling the affairs of the Federation.
However, the parties have all welcomed the PM conceding to hold the election on the old boundaries after his failed attempt, due to court actions, in being able to change them. Dr. Douglas told Parliament that he had won three consecutive elections on the old boundaries and is capable of doing it again. He added that he would do it again on the old boundaries, boasting that he would win a fourth term.
The parties all concluded that the public should demonstrate their disgust, loss of faith and rejection of the PM by voting him out. They added that they would continue to urge their supporters to vote for change, adding that the time has come for the Federation to return to capable, decent, professional and honest leadership.
